Over rivers, over mountains — through the forests, over lakes, Fleetly passed they, rapid gliding — like a bird along the air. As the chariot swiftly travelled — lo, Bhangasuri the king Saw his upper garment fallen — from the lofty chariot seat;
Though in urgent haste, no sooner — he his fallen mantle saw, Than the king exclaimed to Nala — “Pause, and let us take it up: Check, an instant, mighty-minded!— check thy fiery-footed steeds, While Varshneya, swift dismounting — bears me back my fallen robe.”
Nala answered, “Far behind us — doth thy fallen garment lie; Ten miles,lo, it lies behind us — turn we not, to gain it, back.” Answered thus by noble Nala — then Bhangasuri the king, Bowed with fruit, within the forest — saw a tall Vibhitaktree:
Gazing on that tree, the raja — spake to Vahuca in haste, “Now, O charioteer, in numbers, thou shalt see my passing skill. Each one knows not every science — none there is that all things knows: Perfect skill in every knowledge — in one mind there may not be.
On yon tree are leaves how many?— Vahuca, how many fruit? Say, how many are there fallen?— one above a hundred, there. One leaf is there‘ bove a hundred — and one fruit, O Vahuca! And of leaves are five ten millions— hanging on those branches two.
Those two branches if thou gather — and the twigs that on them grow, On those two are fruits two thousand — and a hundred, less by five.” Then, when he had check'd the chariot — answered Vahuca the king, “What thou speakest, to mine eyesight — all invisible appears;
Visible I'll make it, counting — on yon boughs the leaves and fruit: Then, when we have strictly numbered — I mistrust mine eyes no more. In thy presence, king, I'll number — yonder tall Vibhitak-tree. Whether it may be, or may not — this not done, I cannot know.
I will number, thou beholding — all its fruits, O king of men, But an instant let Varshneya — hold the bridles of the steeds.” To the charioteer the raja — answered, “Time is none to stay.” Vahuca replied, all eager — his own purpose to fulfil,
“Either stay thou here an instant — or go onward in thy speed, With the charioteer Varshneya — go, for straight the road before.” Answered him king Rituparna — with a bland and soothing voice: “Charioteer! on earth thine equal — Vahuca, there may not be;
By thy guidance, skilled in horses!— to Vidarbha I would go: I in thee have placed reliance — interrupt not then our course: Willingly will I obey thee — Vahuca, in what thou ask'st, If this day we reach Vidarbha — ere the sun hath sunk in night.”
Vahuca replied, “No sooner — have I numbered yonder fruit, To Vidarbha will I hasten — grant me then my prayer, O king.” Then the raja, all reluctant — “Stay then, and begin to count; Of one branch one part, O blameless — from the tall Vibhitak tree,
Man of truth, begin to number — and make glad thine inmost heart.” From the chariot quick alighting — Nala tore the branch away. Then, his soul possess'd with wonder — to the raja thus he said; “Having counted, an thou sawest — even so many fruits there are,
Marvellous thy power, O monarch — by mine eyes beheld and proved, Of that wonder-working science — fain the secret would I hear.” Then the raja spake in answer — eager to pursue his way, “I of dice possess the science — and in numbers thus am skilled.”
Vahuca replied; “That science — if to me thou wilt impart, In return, O king, receive thou — my surpassing skill in steeds.” Then the raja Rituparna — by his pressing need induced, Eager for that skill in horses — “Be it so,” thus‘ gan to say;
“Well, O Vahuca, thou speakest — thou my skill in dice receive, And of steeds thy wondrous knowledge — be to me a meet return.” Rituparna, all his science — saying this, to Nala gave. Soon as he in dice grew skilful — Kali from his body passed:
He Karkotaka's foul poison — vomiting from out his mouth, Went from forth his body Kali— tortured by that fiery curse. Nala, wasted by that conflict — came not instant to himself, But, released from that dread venom — Kali his own form resumed:
And Nishadha's monarch, Nala — fain would curse him in his ire. Him addressed the fearful Kali — trembling, and with folded hands; “Lord of men, restrain thine anger — I will give thee matchless fame; Indrasena's wrathful mother — laid on me her fatal curse,
When by thee she was deserted — since that time, O king of men, I have dwelt in thee in anguish — in the ecstacy of pain. By the King of Serpents’ poison — I have burned by night, by day; To thy mercy now for refuge — flee I, hear my speech, O king:
Wheresoe'er men, unforgetful — through the world shall laud thy name, Shall the awful dread of Kali— never in their soul abide. If thou wilt not curse me, trembling — and to thee for refuge fled.” Thus addressed, the royal Nala — all his rising wrath suppressed,
And the fearful Kali entered — in the cloven Vibhitak tree: To no eyes but those of Nala — visible, had Kali spoken. Then the monarch of Nishadha — from his inward fever freed, When away had vanished Kali — when the fruits he had numbered all,
Triumphing in joy unwonted — blazing in his splendour forth, Proudly mounting on the chariot — onward urged the rapid steeds. But that tree by Kali entered — since that time stands aye accursed. Those fleet horses, forward flying — like to birds, again, again,
All his soul elate with transport — Nala swifter, swifter drove; With his face towards Vidarbha — rode the raja in his pride: And when forward Nala journeyed — Kali to his home returned. So released from all his sufferings — Nala went, the king of men,
Dispossessed by Kali, wanting — only now his proper form.
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